Wolverine Pickleball Energy Efficiency Award: Christie Howden, co-founder and CEO of Wolverine Pickleball in Ann Arbor, has won the 2025 Energy Champion award from the Small Business Association of Michigan. The award recognizes her energy-saving efforts in designing and building the club’s new 39,000-square-foot indoor facility.
Building with Efficiency in Mind
Christie Howden and co-founder Leslie White opened their first Wolverine Pickleball location in 2020. By December 2023, they launched a much larger facility in Ann Arbor. During construction, Howden focused on making the building energy efficient.
“Our first location was a very drafty warehouse, so when we were planning our new building we definitely wanted it to be as energy-efficient as possible,”.
“We were very conscious about decisions with insulation. We also use a lot of lighting, so we chose LED lighting throughout.”(Christie Howden)
Howden used lighting, HVAC, and refrigeration rebates from DTE Energy to cut energy use. She also took advantage of state renovation incentives during work on the Northville Pickleball Club, a separate 50,000-square-foot facility set to open in September.
Smarter Operations with Technology
The facility uses automated lighting and smart thermostat controls. These features help reduce power use and make the building easier to manage.
“Just having the lights turn on for people walking into rooms has made a difference,”. “Having the thermostats all controlled and optimized for peak times means that we don’t burn as much air conditioning or heat.”(Christie Howden)
The new building is so well-insulated that heating in the winter is rarely needed. Howden says a full audit of the building also helped her identify new ways to save.
“Definitely take advantage of state resources like the Small Business Association of Michigan, because they have dedicated personnel that will help you for free,”. “They will do a complete assessment for you and give you ideas and share resources.”(Christie Howden)
More Than Just Sports
Wolverine Pickleball is also a community space. It offers events like trivia nights, goat yoga, and corporate team-building sessions. Thousands of visitors come to the facility each month.
“We want to be a premier facility that is going to last for a very long time. It’s important that we think about our impact on and in the world,”.
“What’s also important is how that investment is going to pay off, and getting returns on running as efficiently as possible.”(Christie Howden)
What’s Next
Howden plans to add solar panels and an electric kitchen to improve efficiency even more. She believes saving energy helps the environment and lowers long-term costs. Her award shows how businesses can grow while staying green.
News in Brief: Wolverine Pickleball Energy Efficiency Award
Christie Howden of Wolverine Pickleball in Ann Arbor has won the 2025 Energy Champion award. She used smart design and rebates to build an energy-efficient 39,000-square-foot facility. The club also serves as a busy community center. More upgrades, including solar panels, are planned for the future.
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